Management

OMB pressed to clarify rules on job competition appeals

An industry group wants OMB to clarify its policy on who can represent federal employees in agency-level appeals of outsourcing decisions.

Management

Proposed acquisition policy favors contractors, critics say

An interagency council is considering a change to federal procurement rules that critics say would give contractors preferential treatment over federal employees.

Management

Focus of new acquisition panel debated

Management

NIH tries to balance scientists' interests with taxpayer interests

A recent congressional hearing on NIH exposed a conflict that pits taxpayer-funded scientists' interest in making discoveries against the taxpayers' desire for near-term therapies and ethical restraints on research.

Defense

Defense contractors owe billions in unpaid federal taxes

U.S. defense contractors failed to pay the federal government billions in taxes and, in some cases, may be guilty of criminal offenses, General Accounting Office auditors said Thursday.

Defense

Senators seek to make increase in Army troops permanent

The Army's plan to temporarily increase its force levels by 30,000 soldiers could become permanent if a handful of senators can garner support for new draft legislation likely to be included in the fiscal 2005 defense authorization bill, according to Senate aides.

Defense

Ridge defends Homeland Security budget request

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge defended the Bush administration’s budget request for state and local first responders Monday.

Management

GAO off the hook on job competition appeals precedent

A bid protest that had the potential to force a precedent on the appeal rights of federal employee teams losing work to contractors was dismissed by GAO on Friday.

Management

Administration says holding down pay raises helps agencies' budgets

The Bush administration wants to hold the 2005 civil servant pay raise at 1.5 percent because it does not want to saddle federal agencies with unfunded mandates, an administration official said Friday.